Great Chesapeake Balloon & Wine Festival Slated for Aug. 5-6 in Cordova

Thousands are expected to gather at Triple Creek Winery for the annual Great Chesapeake Balloon & Wine Festival.

The Great Chesapeake Balloon & Wine Festival will take place on Aug. 5-6 at Triple Creek Winery in Cordova, Md.

The festival, now in its fifth year, has changed immensely over time. Wayne Dyott, event chairman for the festival and president of the Talbot Paramedic Foundation, says the event has come a long way.

“A board member at the [Talbot] Paramedic Foundation was a pilot and he had his own balloon,” Dyott says. “He thought it would make a great fundraiser.”

And he was right.

The Great Chesapeake Balloon & Wine Festival will take place on Aug. 5-6 at Triple Creek Winery in Cordova, Md. (Photo: Curt Brandt Photography)
By DelmarvaLife Staff

In its first year, the event had three hot air balloons at the Easton/Newnam Field Airport. After moving locations, the event was able to incorporate 10 balloons. This years event will not only showcase 15 balloons, there will also be 25 vendors, a kids zone and food truck rally.

“We were lucky enough to find the winery here in Talbot, it really offers us a beautiful location,” Dyott says.

This years kids zone includes face painting, wagon rides and a balloon guy, among other experiences. The food truck rally will include eight food trucks and two frozen trucks, namely Greek on the Street from Baltimore, Crab Town Curbs from Annapolis, Vittles from Salisbury and more.

The event will offer passenger flights, balloon glow, tethered balloon rides and a walk-about balloon. Dyott says the most amazing aspect of this festival is the fact thousands of people get to see hot air balloons up close and personal. In addition to the close proximity, Dyott says the crowd really enjoys balloon glow.

“We have about 10-15 balloons moving around to music and it’s choreographed,” Dyott says.

Dyott says in years past, the group has raised more than $20,000 during this event. Dyott, along with the Talbot Paramedic Foundation, hope to surpass that number this year.